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Sun, 18 Feb 2018 07:12:06 GMTFeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net)Kev is Summer Pride of GPhttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/463-kev-is-summer-pride-of-gp
Kev came to Lifeline Harrogate in September last year.

When he arrived he had been suffering from PTSD for 18 years following his time in the Army. When we met him he would spend days in his room not wanting to come out. But with a little encouragement and support Kev started to engage with Lifeline more and more. In Kev's own words, 'My life has changed dramatically'. Today Kev enjoys gardening, running and is looking forward to helping orphans in Hungary this summer. The photo below is of him taking part in 'Chase the Sun', a race across the UK organised by GP Partners, Restore York.

Kev also went on an Alpha course; this reignited his faith and resulted in his baptism in the river.

Kev plans to spend his prize money on a computer; he has lots of creative entrepreneurial ideas including developing fitness classes to Christian music.

You might recognise Kev from a video we recently made in Harrogate, you can watch that here.

]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Thu, 06 Jul 2017 15:59:38 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/463-kev-is-summer-pride-of-gpMark, Pride of Green Pastureshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/461-mark-pride-of-green-pastures-ii
This is Mark, from Mulberry Project Blackpool. Despite struggling with alcohol addiction he never lost sight of his dreams. The Mulberry Project created a programme with him so he could start accomplishing his dreams step by step. Mark has been alcohol-free for over a year, he has gone to college and already completed Levels 1-3 Health and Social Care. Mark is giving back to the local project, facilitating group work and helping with assessments. With the support of The Mulberry Project, Mark's life has been absolutely transformed - he is a great role model to others at the project! Mark plans to study a degree course and will use his prize money towards resources.

]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Fri, 31 Mar 2017 16:26:02 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/461-mark-pride-of-green-pastures-iiJordan is Christmas Pride of Green Pastureshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/459-jordan-is-christmas-pride-of-green-pastures
Jordan had a happy childhood but suddenly lost his mum at the age of 16. Her death was avoidable so compensation was payable to Jordan. The grief led him to spending the money on alcohol as he tried to fit in. Within 2 years the money had gone and his drinking had got out of control.

Christmas Pride of Green Pastures partner, Restore York, met Jordan and housed him. Through their relentless love and support Jordan’s life started to change. He started a rehab program at Teen Challenge and during his stay there Jordan met Jesus. Completely transformedby that love and forgiveness Jordan is on the Teen Challenge Leadership program and hopes to help people that were just like him.

This is Aida, who was a resident of Green Pastures Partner, Boaz Trust in Manchester.

Aida escaped Iran because of political persecution. In Iran she had worked as an architect. Refused asylum by the Home Office Aida didn't know where to turn...

'If family say go, if the Home Office say go, if friends say go. Who is left? Only Boaz is left. They give me a safe place. Boaz brings me joy.'

Boaz supported Aida in a number of ways not least solicitor and case worker support for a fresh claim for asylum. In October 2015 Aida was granted refugee status. Since getting her refugee status Aida has gone on to be accepted onto a work placement with Keepmoat, one of the UK's top 10 construction firms.

The existence of The Boaz Trust and other partners who support refugees and asylum seekers means there is a future for people like Aida who have nowhere else to turn. You can join the journey here.

]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/453-aida-pride-of-green-pastures23 heroes run 10k for Green Pastureshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/448-23-heroes-run-10k-for-green-pastures
On 10th July 23 superheroes dashed their way about the Capital to raise money for Green Pastures.

We gathered friends supporters and indeed our runners from across the country - thanks to the team from Southport who made it down for the day!

We also had the great pleasure of being joined by several runners from Fresh Horizons, Harrow. Do you remember Sticky, our Easter Pride of Green Pastures? Well he was one of the Green Pastures Runners! He is pictured below with his shiny medal and some fellow running friends.

]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Mon, 18 Jul 2016 16:12:06 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/448-23-heroes-run-10k-for-green-pasturesPastor Pete: Renewed vision and loving the alienhttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/445-renewed-vision-and-loving-the-alien
]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Tue, 10 May 2016 11:42:27 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/445-renewed-vision-and-loving-the-alienJames Pride of Green Pastures 1 year on!http://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/444-james-pride-of-gp
This time last year we named James from Handcrafted, Durham our Easter Pride of Green Pastures. He made such great progress that UCB interviewed him. You can listen to the interview HERE.]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:42:29 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/444-james-pride-of-gpSticky is Spring Pride of Green Pastureshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/443-sticky-spring-pride-of-green-pastures

This is Sticky from Harrow, he is our Spring Pride of Green Pastures.

Before joining Hope House, Harrow run by GP partner Fresh Horizons, Sticky had been in a very vulnerable state. After a relationship breakdown he found himself homeless and battling mental health problems. He quickly settled in, learnt to cook and within a few weeks he was back in touch with his two young children, cooking them their first ever Shepherd's Pie. Now he volunteers at the night shelter he used to attend and has become a great support for the Polish men there. Speaking Polish is one of Sticky’s many surprising talents!

He has recommitted his life to Christ and is growing in his faith and health every day thanks to the support of volunteers at Fresh Horizons.]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:25:54 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/443-sticky-spring-pride-of-green-pasturesDave: Christmas Pride of GPhttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/435-dave-christmas-pride-of-gp

Dave has made incredible progress this last year. Leaving behind a life of addiction, he successfully completed their residential Recovery programme and now lives in a GP house in Rushden, close to and still under the support of Recovery House.

Today Dave loves to write poetry and is a peer mentor to other men at Recovery House whose lives have been affected by addiction. Dave will soon be going into a local school to warn teenagers of the dangers of addiction.

When we told Dave he'd won the award he said:Thank you so much! This award will enable me to buy uniforms for my daughters and to go for a nice Christmas treat with them'.

Your support enables us to witness the life-change in hundreds of people like Dave.]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Thu, 10 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/435-dave-christmas-pride-of-gpJason Reed: Summer Pride of Green Pastures!http://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/421-jason-pride
Before Jason became a resident at Friends First his life was in chaos. He suffered various addictions and was sleeping in shop doorways.

Jason said “My life has done a complete 360. I have been off drugs and drink for a year, resisting re-offending and volunteering four days a week...and I live indoors! Friends First have given me a place to live!” His face completely lights up as he talks about where he lives. His personal highlights include redecorating Green Pastures House in Boundary Road and learning new skills. He excels in carpentry and construction (a course run by Friends First) and was involved in the renovation of the Friends First workshop and new offices.We presented Jason with his award at the House of Commons where he looked really smart, you would never guess his history. Jason quite comfortably engaged Andrew Selous, the Minister for Prisons in the UK.Jason is keen to further his carpentry skills through a local college course, he will be using the Green Pastures prize money as a grant towards his course costs.

We are pleased to announce James Hyland from Handcrafted, Durham is our Easter Pride of Green Pastures!

James struggled with a life of drugs and crime and ended up in a homeless hostel. In October 2014 he was referred to Handcrafted and started to engage with the carpentry workshop. In January James was part of a renovation team who modernised a Green Pastures property and made it suitable for living in. James now lives in the very house he renovated, sleeping in a bed he made himself in the workshop.

Life is really changing for James, he's regained contact with his children. He has been making toy boxes for them in the Handcrafted workshop. James has joined the Connect Group at church and was baptised in November. James has donated his prize money to a missions trip to Norway. James says, 'I am thrilled to be in my new home, to have contact with my kids and to be a part of Kings church'

James is using his prize money towards his church mission trip, you can sponsor him here.

Find out more about Handcrafted here, about partnering with us here. Or you can invest in our properties for a 5% return here.

Last year saw the first ever Green Pastures runners in the British 10k. An amazing team of nine supporters got their running shoes on and joined the race to end homelessness in the UK. We'd love you to join the team this year!

The British 10k is an amazing opportunity to see the nations capital taking you on a tour of many of the iconic sites of London. You will join 25,000 other runners on roads are closed to all road traffic through the route.

Places are limited so we suggest you register as soon as you decide to join the team. There is no registration fee but we ask that you pledge to raise a minimum of £250 which will help us reach our goal of housing over 1000 vulnerable people by 2017!

The Pride of Green Pastures award is given quarterly to a Green Pastures resident that has made truly transformational progress towards a bigger, brighter future.

Mick had struggled over the years but things started to change when he moved into a Green Pastures property run by St Thomas Church Philadelphia just over 2 years ago. Mick worked hard to overcome obstacles in his life and with support and guidance from the church community. He started a volunteer role in a local foodbank distribution centre preparing and sorting food parcels, helping people experiencing poverty. We're so pleased to say that Mick continued to progress, has now become a Christian and is now in paid employment!

If you're interested in helping to support more people like Mick then why not tell your church about Green Pastures.

Find out more about partnering here. Or you can invest in our properties for a 5% return here.

On Sunday 13th July nine volunteers ran the Great British 10k to raise money for GP. So far we have raised a total of £2700 and sponsorships continue to come in. Amazingly one of the GP runners, Jonno Gunthorpe, came 75th out of 25,000 runners with a time of 40 minutes 5 seconds! Please do consider sponsoring them on the links below.

Jonno GunthorpeOllie KendalAndy MackayAshley MatthewsJane KendalTommy ClohertyEsther TuakliJonny PilkingtonRory Paget-Wilkes ]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:22:36 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/393-9-people-run-10k-for-gpSmall acts of kindnesshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/375-small-acts-of-kindness
I was looking again at the story of the Good Samaritan this week. One of our biggest tendencies to failure in this life is that to take the position of judge and condemner. When the good Samaritan arrives at the scene he finds a man who was beaten, broken, possibly even unconscious and left for dead. But he doesn’t even pause to question how someone might get into that situation, no, he springs into action! If you look at the attitude of the Good Samaritan it is quite remarkable. Not only does he go over to the man, but he gets out his First Aid kit! He bandaged this man up, put him on his own transport (a donkey) and took him to the Inn-keeper. We often miss the fact that during that first night at the Inn, the Samaritan cared for the injured man. All of these small details point to what should be the spirit of the servant Christ in us. It’s so easy when you are on a mission to miss out on the delicacy of kindness in the details. We must remember that it’s often the little acts of kindness among the broader charge that can make the difference. Jesus chastised the disciples when they thought their business was to important and to sophisticated for little children. We are called to bare one another’s burdens and encourage one another in Christ. Practically this means meeting people where they are at, being very careful not to impose our presuppositions on them, to serve people sacrificially and encourage people in Christ.

Recently I’ve been diagnosed with Angina, and I’ve needed to rely on the care and support of others to help me get through. When I’ve struggled physically, my brothers and sisters have come to my need in small and practical ways. I’ve seen the light of Christ in those who have come to my need. People haven’t judged my lack of efficiency or complained at the tedium of the support that I’ve needed, they’ve loved me like Jesus loves me. What a blessing!]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Pastor Pete)Wed, 18 Dec 2013 12:35:17 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/375-small-acts-of-kindnessGP in the Church Times!http://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/349-gp-in-the-church-times
Green Pastures was the topic of an recent report in the Church Times on Archbishop Justin Welby's recent speech regarding housing initiatives. The article focuses primarily on the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion that Church Commissioners should support housing scheme's like Green Pastures. Click here to read the whole article. ]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:18:40 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/349-gp-in-the-church-timesKingdom Buildinghttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/347-kingdom-building
Yesterday I was thinking about Kingdom building – which is what we’re all about. In Revelation 5, John weeps and the angel says, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.’ The prophesy of Jacob in Genesis is fulfilled. Isn’t that amazing, God is fulfilling his promises, that he will establish his Kingdom on the earth. Do we have the faith to believe that God will follow through on his promises to us? He has a plan for our lives and a plan for this nation and the church is a huge part of that plan. I get really excited when I think about God’s kingdom because it’s about His people rising up and the homeless being housed, the hungry being fed, the naked being clothed. Let’s work to help usher in his kingdom together, because when we do we’ll see his promises fulfilled!]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Pastor Pete)Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:00:15 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/347-kingdom-buildingLove remainshttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/342-love-remains
“Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? Isn’t this the same message the LORD proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?’” Then this message came to Zechariah from the LORD: “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.- Zechariah 7:5-10

When I read this this morning I got thinking about what God’s calling us to do when he calls us to proclaim the gospel. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day, the ebs and flows of life and forget what we’re really called for. We’re called to serve the Lord. The question we must always be asking ourselves is “what is the Lord requiring of me today?”. This is a passage about a people who had got caught up in their religious activities and forgotten to ask God what he was requiring of them. This may change as seasons change. What God requires of you today will be different from what he will call you to next week, next month, next year. But the important thing is that it’s God’s mission that matters, not ours, what does He require of us? Zachariah reminds us that what he has called us to is love. Love for our neighbours and love for our God. Colossians 3:14 says that above all virtues we should put on love. It’s love that rives us to serve the widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor. It’s love that stops us from scheming against oneanother. Love is the theme that remains through the years as we seek to do what God requires of us. What is God requiring of you today?]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Pastor Pete)Thu, 11 Jul 2013 11:44:48 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/pastor-petes-blog/342-love-remainsGP back on UCB radiohttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/331-pastor-pete-on-the-radioagain

]]> ollie@greenpastureshousing.co.uk (Ollie)Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:40:09 GMThttp://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/331-pastor-pete-on-the-radioagainPastor Pete at Housing Justice Conference!http://www.greenpastures.net/about/news/319-pastor-pete-at-housing-justice-conference
On Wednesday 12th June 2012, Pastor Pete, Rory and Ollie will be at the Housing Justice annual conference. Come along and join us The Light Church, Jermyn Street, Bradford BD1 4EJ. Housing Minister Mark Pris will be speaking. Go to the Housing Justice website for more information.

Workshops will include:- Housing homeless people in the private rented sector

- Supporting people with no recourse to public funds- Setting up a Christian Homelessness Forum; and- Using the Pastoral Cycle

The conference will be followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at Bradford Cathedral and a Gala Dinner with special guest speakers and entertainments. More details will be circulated very soon but please save the date - this is a day not to be missed!

Download the full conference pack, including your booking form here >>